What Does The Individual Unemployability Benefit Program For Veterans Offer And Who Can Benefit?

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Greenville, SC, veterans can receive the equivalent of the total disability compensation even though their disability rating is lower than 100%. This is possible through the Individual Unemployability program for veterans in force throughout the country.
The program grants the VA compensation for the 100% disability rating to veterans who have a disability rating of 60% or higher due to a service-related condition or injury and who cannot pursue substantially gainful employment as a result.
Although the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers a quite straightforward presentation of the program, of the eligibility requirements, of the evidence an applicant has to submit, and of the application procedure, as usual, the devil hides in the details.
The guidelines available are only general, and they may be difficult to follow for a disabled veteran. For example, applicants have to provide evidence for at least one service-related disability and for how the respective disability prevents them from securing employment, but there is no telling what documents could qualify as evidence.
Also, it is possible to apply online or with the regional VA offices, but it is up to every potential applicant to discover what the two different application options entail. That is why many veterans in Greenville SC prefer to turn to a VA disability benefits lawyer to evaluate their eligibility for the Individual Unemployability Benefit program and take over the application procedure.
The best way to assess whether it is time to contact a VA disability benefits attorney is to find out more about the Individual Unemployability Benefit program and its requirements.
We will take a closer look at it in the following lines.

About the Individual Unemployability Benefit Program for Veterans and How a VA Disability Benefits Lawyer in Greenville, SC, May Help

As mentioned above, the program offers total disability benefits to veterans with a disability rating of minimum 60%, even lower in special cases reviewed individually, under specific requirements, listed below:

  • The applicant should be a veteran and have at least one service-related disability
  • Applicants with only one service-related disability should have a disability rating of no less than 60%
  • Applicants with two or more service-related disabilities should have the minimum rating for one service-related disability of 40%, and the combined  rating of all their service-related disabilities of at least 70%
  • The service-related disabilities should prevent the applicant from securing substantially gainful employment (odd jobs and marginal employment do not qualify as substantially gainful employment)

Of course, applicants need to prove their eligibility. Here is some of the evidence required:

  • Evidence of the service-related disability – medical letters and reports documenting the disabilities the veteran suffers from and that at least one of those disabilities (physical or mental condition) is related to the applicant’s military service
  • Evidence that the respective service-related disability/disabilities meet the rating requirements and prevent the applicant from performing the tasks involved by substantially gainful activities – VA disability rating letter acknowledging the minimum ratings mentioned above, doctor evaluations explaining how the disability/disabilities affect the applicant’s ability to work
  • Evidence of exceptional circumstances that may entitle a veteran with a disability rating lower than the above-mentioned minimums to receive individual unemployment benefits – Medical reports testifying to an unusual service-related disability that interferes with employment, requires frequent, long-term hospitalization, or has some other particularities that exceed normal disability requirements.

Greenville SC veterans who meet the above-described eligibility criteria and can provide the required evidence have three options when applying for Individual Unemployability benefits:

  1. Applying online, through eBenefits
  2. Applying at a VA regional office
  3. Applying with the help of a disability benefits lawyer

The last option is the most convenient, as the application process is not as simple as it seems at first sight and any mistakes in putting together the required documentation and filling in the necessary forms can cost the applicant their benefits or bring about delays of several months. Since the whole process of being approved and beginning to receive the due benefits can last up to one year, and many claims receive negative answers, applicants cannot afford to take chances.

Secure Your Individual Unemployability Benefits with the Help of a Greenville VA Disability Benefits Lawyer

If you think you qualify for Individual Unemployability benefits but you have questions, you are not sure the evidence you have is enough, or you are wondering what other documents you should provide, the best thing you can do is to discuss your case with a VA disability benefits lawyer.

  1. Robert Surface is a VA Department-certified lawyer with 34 years of experience in the service of the disabled. He has helped many veterans obtain the due disability benefits, and he can help you obtain Individual Unemployability benefits too. Contact us now and schedule a FREE consultation to find out more about what he can do for you!
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